I am helping a non Internet using friend find a scope. He ordered a brand new Winchester .308 rifle. I'm not sure which model, but it for sure is a bolt action .308. He doesn't want to spend $1000 on a scope. He planes to target shoot t 500 yards. What is a good budget minded scope he can mount on a picatinny style rail? Thanks!!
Help with scope.. Picking one out...
- Thread starter mopar92
- Start date
- Status
courtgreene
Member
target shooting at 500 yards is going to be difficult without good glass. good usually means expensive, and you didn't give a range, just a max. I'm not really answering your question, and sorry if that's frustrating, but I think that tells you why you aren't getting responses.
mcdonl
Member
Where did he order the gun? Has he gone to a large box store like Cabelas, etc... they pretty much stay away from the highest end, and the lowest end but you can find man scopes from between $200 - $1000 at most of those stores.
B1gGr33n
Member
I have a Bushnell Trophy 4-12x40 on my Savage 111 30-06 that I've shot out to 400 with very good results. I picked it up on sale at Gander Mountain for $185.
BrocLuno
Member
Sorry - I'd only opt for something like a Bushnell 4200 or above. You need really good glass and coatings to see through mirage on hot days or thick haze on damp and humid days. Something like this: http://www.theriflescopestore.com/buel42sc6va5.html 
I'm not stuck on this brand, you could go with Night Force, Leupold, US optical, Zeiss, or any of a bunch of others - BUT, they are all over your budget.
If you can't do the Bushy, maybe try Mueller - something like this: http://www.muelleroptics.com/products/MU83244TD
If it'll be all daytime shooting, maybe a good used Weaver steel tube target scope that has been reconditioned?
You need good eye relief, large exit pupil, excellent clarity and that means advanced lens design and good coatings. It'll be long and heavy, so it will need to be rigid and repeatable. To hold that long heavy scope you will be into rings and bases with bedding about $200 right there. You are looking for a lot of scope within your budget.
As a last resort, or if you are not China shy (?) - you could get a very nice first focal plane mil-spec scope with side focus from Vector Optics for about $500.
I'm not stuck on this brand, you could go with Night Force, Leupold, US optical, Zeiss, or any of a bunch of others - BUT, they are all over your budget.
If you can't do the Bushy, maybe try Mueller - something like this: http://www.muelleroptics.com/products/MU83244TD
If it'll be all daytime shooting, maybe a good used Weaver steel tube target scope that has been reconditioned?
You need good eye relief, large exit pupil, excellent clarity and that means advanced lens design and good coatings. It'll be long and heavy, so it will need to be rigid and repeatable. To hold that long heavy scope you will be into rings and bases with bedding about $200 right there. You are looking for a lot of scope within your budget.
As a last resort, or if you are not China shy (?) - you could get a very nice first focal plane mil-spec scope with side focus from Vector Optics for about $500.
steven58
Member
Midway is having a sale on the Bushnell Elite 4200 Tactical Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 3-12x 44mm Side Focus 1/10 MIL Adjustments First Focal Illuminated Mil-Dot
Was $849.99 is now $594.99. Save $255.00
Sale expires 2/28/2011
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=325361
This is probably the best long range scope you can get for that price. Slap it on a 20 moa base and you are GTG!
Was $849.99 is now $594.99. Save $255.00
Sale expires 2/28/2011
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=325361
This is probably the best long range scope you can get for that price. Slap it on a 20 moa base and you are GTG!
At 500 yds its impossible to see bullet placement with only 12X magnification. You will have to have a 80X minimum spotter scope to go along with this venture to confirm your group sizes and moa. I am a member of a shooting club in Denton and our max target stands are at 200 and I struggle with a 24X scope.
BSA Tactical Mil-Dot Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 6-24x 44mm Side Focus Glass Etched Mil-Dot Reticle MatteProduct #: 962234Manufacturer #: TMD624x44/30SP
4.76 stars Read Reviews (29)
Read the reviews at Midway on this scope. I have bought 3 of them in the past year. One on a 20'' Bushmaster OCMP national match AR-15, one on a Remington 700 .308 Varmint 26'' with a righteous H&S stock and timney trigger, and a Springfield M1A National Match. My fellow members are in disbelief that BSA can make something this nice, but they do!
Bryan
BSA Tactical Mil-Dot Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 6-24x 44mm Side Focus Glass Etched Mil-Dot Reticle MatteProduct #: 962234Manufacturer #: TMD624x44/30SP
4.76 stars Read Reviews (29)
Read the reviews at Midway on this scope. I have bought 3 of them in the past year. One on a 20'' Bushmaster OCMP national match AR-15, one on a Remington 700 .308 Varmint 26'' with a righteous H&S stock and timney trigger, and a Springfield M1A National Match. My fellow members are in disbelief that BSA can make something this nice, but they do!
Bryan
MIL-DOT
member
I understand and agree that you don't have to spend a thousand bucks to get a decent scope, but you gotta spend A FEW bucks, or you're better off saving your money. I would dismiss the recommendations for low end stuff like BSA or the non-Elite-series Bushnells.
Also, use the search feature because this question has been asked and answered many times, so you'll find many more useful replies than this single thread will likely get.
Another point, take a look at SWFA and OpticsPlanet, they've almost always had the best optics deals that I've found.
I agree with the recommendations for the Bushnell Elites. I have a 3200 tactical mil-dot.......on my Beeman pellet rifle !!! And a 3-9x40 4200 on a mini-14. I got that 4200 from Overstock.com for about $200,delivered !! Take a look there, too.
The Japanese made Weavers have been getting rave reviews for a while, great scopes for the money ( I have two V-series').
Also, warranty and customer service is always a factor. I know Bushnell (elite),Weaver and Leupold all have lifetime warranties and great customer service, unlike others ( like Nikon) that are great scopes, but pretty well known as being difficult if a problem arises.
I think Numrich sometimes has killer optics deals, as well.
Just some rambling thoughts off the top of my head, hope it was remotely useful.
Also, use the search feature because this question has been asked and answered many times, so you'll find many more useful replies than this single thread will likely get.
Another point, take a look at SWFA and OpticsPlanet, they've almost always had the best optics deals that I've found.
I agree with the recommendations for the Bushnell Elites. I have a 3200 tactical mil-dot.......on my Beeman pellet rifle !!! And a 3-9x40 4200 on a mini-14. I got that 4200 from Overstock.com for about $200,delivered !! Take a look there, too.
The Japanese made Weavers have been getting rave reviews for a while, great scopes for the money ( I have two V-series').
Also, warranty and customer service is always a factor. I know Bushnell (elite),Weaver and Leupold all have lifetime warranties and great customer service, unlike others ( like Nikon) that are great scopes, but pretty well known as being difficult if a problem arises.
I think Numrich sometimes has killer optics deals, as well.
Just some rambling thoughts off the top of my head, hope it was remotely useful
.- Status
